Past Times: First World War: Sidney Oakes

Sidney Oakes of Hinckley in a picture taken in Germany after the First World War in 1919

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Sid (02/02/1898 – October 1952) was born in Wolvey, near Hinckley, an area where several uncles and cousins lived. In the 1911 census, Sid is listed as living at three Coventry Road, Wolvey, with his parents George William Oakes and Emily Maria Oakes (nee Holt) and is aged 13 years.

His occupation is listed as a hosiery trimmer. In 1916, on October 16 he was travelled to Warwick and at the age of 18 years and 8 months, Sid signed up to fight in the Great War.

By this time he had a different job, still in the hosiery trade. He was now a dyer. According to the questions asked of him at the time of enlisting, he had never served in the forces before, was not married and had no children.

He had no preference for any particular service, but did not wish to serve in the navy, probably he couldn’t swim. The approving officer appointed him to the 13th Devon corps. There is a descriptive report on joining which gives his height as 5 feet 7 and a half inches.

A chest measurement of 37 and half inches, fully expanded ,and an expansion of two and a half inches. He weighed 146 pounds and had four vaccination marks on his left arm. Apart from that there were no other distinctive marks.

Next of Kin was given as George William Oakes, father, of the same address.

He was despatched to France and embarked from Folkestone for France on February 26 1917.

Arriving in France at Boulogne later the same day, Sid’s unit was the 41st labour company. I think that suggests that he was digging the trenches. I don’t think he liked his work as on March 13 1917 he was awarded “seven days FP number 2” - Field Prison or Field Punishment? - for “leaving his work without permission”. Going AWOL in other words.

He was lucky he wasn’t executed for desertion, as some were.

On April 19 that same year he was admitted to a field hospital, and later transferred to 6BLRS where he was admitted with Urethritis - I don’t know if that is the correct spelling but that is what is on record. It suggest it is some kind of waterworks trouble.

Sid was transferred back to the Labour Corps on May 14 1917 but on December 26 1917 he was once again admitted to hospital with some kind of “debility”. What, I cannot tell, but I think it must have been serious as the next entry is on his record is “next of Kin Mother, three Coventry Road Wolvey Hinckley”.

Sid was transferred to another hospital on December 29 1917. By March 1918, unfortunately for him, Sid was back at war, and on March 16 1918 whilst posted to Etaples, which I think is near the French/Belgian border, Sid was involved in a “gas drop”.

He was repatriated to England via Newhaven, and sent to Romford Hospital. On March 17 1918 he was posted to SGLT ,whatever that may be. Then on March 30 1918 he was transferred to Eastbourne hospital for 36 days. April 30 1918 he was discharged from hospital and given 35 days leave to recover.

On May 19 he was posted back to his company.

On August 3 1918 he is posted to 446 Agricultural company in Wareham, where he worked until October 29 1919 when together with the labour company he was posted to join the British army on the Rhine, where he was awarded a proficiency pay rise of six pence!

This is equivalent to two and a half pence today. Sid had to complete British Army Form W3661 which was a basic will. I have found a copy of it but unfortunately it is so faded it is unreadable.

His military history sheet shows that he returned to the UK on February 3 1920.

Sid was transferred to class Z army reserve and finally demobbed with “good character” on February 8 that year by the unit records office in Nottingham.

The unveiling of the War Memorial at Burbage, on Saturday February 28 1921

Next on his records is a protection and ID certificate with which he was issued, and had to be shown if he sought a soldier’s donation.

Next there is a form stating that there is nothing wrong with him and he will not be making a disability claim, which he was expected to sign.

Then there is a receipt that he had to sign and return to acknowledge receipt of his medals of which there were two they were posted to him on December 17 1920.

They were the British war medal and the victory medal. I have one of them, but I have no idea where the other is or what it looks like.

Like many returning soldiers, Sid was never the same again and suffered constantly with a bad chest as a result of being gassed.

At the time of his death in 1952 Sid was a coal rounds man with a horse and cart. Prior to this he was a milk rounds man again with a horse and cart. But the horse didn’t like him and one day he was bitten “so deeply you could see his ribs”.

This was told to me by Maureen Smith who knew him as uncle Sid.

If anyone has any family stories to tell, or pictures from that time, please feel free to send them in to us. We would love to include them in future editions of The Hinckley Times. Write to The Hinckley Times, Atkins Building, Lower Bond Street, Hinckley LE10 1QU or email hinckleytimes@trinity mirror.com